NIST Awards Advanced Manufacturing Grants

GAITHERSBURG, Md., May 9, 2014 — Two projects aimed at advancing photonics manufacturing have been awarded grants from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) through its Advanced Manufacturing Technology Consortia (AMTech) program.

University of Rochester’s New York Photonics Manufacturing Initiative received a $498,430 grant to develop regional and national technology roadmaps for the photonics industry. The project is intended to lay the groundwork for a national institute dedicated to advancing photonics-based manufacturing technologies. UR scientists plan to work closely with the National Photonics Initiative to achieve these goals.

Meanwhile, the Consortium for Integrated Photonic Systems Manufacturing, a project of the International Electronics Manufacturing Initiative (iNEMI), received a $539,990 NIST grant. iNEMI plans to address technology challenges and gaps that limit the advance of technology for use in integrated photonic-system manufacturing.

These are two of 19 university and nonprofit research projects to receive grant funds through the AMTech program.

Totaling about $9 million, the funding supports planning-based projects that establish and strengthen industry-focused research consortia and develop shared-vision technology roadmaps of industry's research needs, as well as projects that support basic and applied research for long-term, pre-competitive industrial research needs.

The funded projects will identify and rank R&D goals, define workforce needs, and speed technology development and transfer, as well as improve manufacturing capabilities. The projects span various industries and technologies, from electronics manufacturing to biomanufacturing.